Cast saw lubrication and burn reduction system

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for a medical cutting device, specifically, a cast removal apparatus designed for the removal of orthopedic casts generally applied for immobilization, which apparatus comprises a temperature safety system and/or a burn reduction system. The use of any saw for cast removal creates a potential for patient discomfort and iatrogenic injury, including but not limited to burns which can leave unsightly scars and wound complications. The apparatuses presented comprise a housing for a temperature control system and motor, which motor can be controlled by the temperature control system to control a cast saw blade, with at least one temperature sensor to sense temperature information regarding at least one cutting region of the blade. The temperature information is used by the temperature control system to control the motor. The apparatuses presented comprise a burn reduction system with cast saw blade coolant or lubricant and coolant or lubricant applicators.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to providing apparatusfor cast saws, and more particularly, to apparatus for a cast sawtemperature safety system and cast saw burn reduction system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Immobilization is considered essential for the proper healing of brokenbones and other internal trauma, and immobilization is typicallyachieved with the use of orthopedic casts. Removal of orthopedic castsis typically difficult by design, so that a cast functions effectivelyto immobilize the body part that needs to be immobilized. Cast saws arefrequently used to remove casts, and oscillating saw blades arepreferred, in which the cast saw blade oscillates within a range oftypically a few millimeters, reducing the risk of cuts to the patient,provided that any skin contacted by the blade is mobile. If the skin canmove with the cast saw blade as the blade oscillates, the skin isunlikely to be cut; if the skin is in a less-mobile region of the body,such as the skin over a bony prominence, the skin is more likely to becut.

Conventionally, the use of an oscillating saw or non-oscillating saw forcast removal creates a potential for patient discomfort and foriatrogenic injury, such as burns and abrasions resulting from the heatcreated by frictional forces between the cast saw blade and the castmaterial. Often, thick casts are required or chosen to immobilize theinjured area, and cutting through thick casts heats a cast saw blade andleads to increased risk of burns, as well as abrasions. Casts may beinadequately padded, which also increases the risk of injury after a sawblade has cut through the more rigid exterior cast material.Additionally, dull saw blades and improper user technique of cast sawscan lead to second and third degree burns. Saw burns can leave unsightlyscars and wound complications. There also exist types of shears forcutting orthopedic casts, but they carry other risks of injury.

Conventional cast saws generally do not provide information on ormonitor the temperature of the cast saw blade. In conventional cast sawswith oscillating blades, only a relatively small portion of the blade isused as a cutting region at a time. As that portion of the blade dulls,a user may loosen, rotate, and re-tighten the blade to use a sharperportion of the blade as the active cutting region, provided the bladecomprises sufficiently distinct cutting regions—not all blades arecircular, and some are not intended to be rotated. But, without atemperature indication, the user may not know that the blade is dull orotherwise susceptible to being overheated and should be cooled orrotated or replaced.

With cast saws, a hot blade can indicate that the blade is cuttingthrough thick material, or that the blade is dull, or that when cuttinga fiberglass cast, the resin or polymer epoxy typically used with thefiberglass material is sticking to the blade (often because it isn'tfully dried). The resin or epoxy can adhere to the blade cutting region,boosting friction between the cast saw blade and the cast. Any of thesecan lead to a rise in the temperature of the blade, and withouttemperature information about the blade, the user may not know that theblade needs to be rotated or cooled to reduce the risk of injury to thepatient.

Prior art devices exist for removing orthopedic casts, such as types ofshears and scissor-type cutting devices, as well as cast saws, includingbut not limited to models from Stryker, DeSoutter, American Orthopaedic,and Delta-Cast, examples of which are provided in the InformationDisclosure Statement accompanying this application, and all of whichshare the shortcomings of the prior art which the present inventionseeks to solve. The prior art does not allow a user to control themotion and oscillation speed of a cast removal saw based on thetemperature of one or more cutting regions of a cast saw blade, with thepossibility of automatic feedback and programmed modes of operation, orlubrication or coolant, to lower or remove the risk to the patient ofburns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets all these needs, by disclosing apparatus fora cast saw temperature safety system that provides monitoring andcontrol of the cast blade for temperature, and by disclosing apparatusfor a burn reduction system that lowers the temperature of the cast sawblade at one or more cutting regions of the cast saw blade. The presentinvention addresses the problem of the prior art with regard to cast sawburns, by providing control of the cast saw blade to keep thetemperature of one or more cutting regions of the blade at or below aspecified temperature range, and by providing a burn reduction systemfor cooling the cutting region of the cast saw blade. The presentinvention may also provide for control over the cast saw bladeoscillation speed, because by slowing or speeding the oscillations ofthe cast saw blade the control system can effectively reduce thefrictional forces between the cast saw blade and the orthopedic cast,and thus allow the temperature of a cutting region of the cast saw bladeto lower, or allow the temperature to rise if the temperature is belowan allowable threshold, providing additional benefits with regard topreventing cast saw burns.

The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art, which donot present apparatus for cast saw blade temperature monitoring andblade oscillation speed control for patient safety, by lowering the riskto the patient of injuries from burns. The temperature informationprovided by the present invention can indicate that the cutting regionof the blade is dull, therefore alerting the user that the blade shouldbe rotated (typically, by loosening, rotating, and re-tightening theblade, with blades which can be rotated). The temperature informationmay indicate that the blade is cutting thick cast material, or that aresin or polymer epoxy used in the fiberglass cast sticking to theblade, gumming up the blade and making it dull or otherwise unable tocut the cast material, which may suggest other approaches or caution incutting the cast material.

The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art, which donot present burn reduction systems for lowering and controlling thetemperature of the cutting region of the cast saw blade throughapplication of a coolant to reduce the temperature of the cast sawblade, or where the coolant may be a lubricant to reduce frictionbetween the cast saw blade and the cast and thus reduce the temperatureof the cast saw blade.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a cast saw blade, whichcast saw blade comprises a plurality of cutting regions; a cast sawarbor, to which cast saw arbor the cast saw blade is attached; a castsaw motor, which cast saw motor is operably connected to the cast sawarbor; a cast saw body enclosing the cast saw motor, and to which castsaw body a plurality of temperature sensors is attached; and atemperature control system, which controls the cast saw motor tooscillate; wherein the plurality of temperature sensors conveytemperature information to the temperature control system, whichtemperature information may comprise a plurality of temperature readingswith one or more readings for each of one or more cutting regions of thecast saw blade; and wherein the temperature control system is configuredto process the temperature information to determine if the temperatureof the cast saw blade at a cutting region of the cast saw blade is at orabove a threshold temperature.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a cast saw blade, whichcast saw blade comprises a plurality of cutting regions; a plurality oftemperature sensors; a cast saw arbor, to which cast saw arbor the castsaw blade is attached; a cast saw motor, which cast saw motor isoperably connected to the cast saw arbor; a cast saw body enclosing thecast saw motor; and a temperature control system, which controls thecast saw motor oscillation rate.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemon the cast saw body.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemis enclosed in the cast saw body.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of temperaturesensors is mounted to the cast saw body in a fixed manner.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of temperaturesensors is mounted to the cast saw body movably.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of temperaturesensors is embedded in the cast saw blade, or is external to and affixedto the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, a connection between theplurality of temperature sensors and the temperature control system isachieved with wires running through the cast saw arbor or external tothe cast saw arbor.

In one aspect of the present invention, a connection between theplurality of temperature sensors and the temperature control system isachieved with a wireless connection.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of temperaturesensors comprise one or more selected from a list comprisingthermocouples, resistive temperature devices, thermistors, infraredradiators, lasers, bimetallic devices, liquid expansion devices, opticalsensors, fiber Bragg grating optical sensors or other distributed Braggreflector, thermowells, resistance thermometer, resistance temperaturedetectors, digital thermal imaging, infrared temperature measurement, orchange-of-state devices.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of temperaturesensors convey temperature information to the temperature controlsystem, which temperature information may comprise a plurality oftemperature readings with one or more reading for each of one or morecutting regions of the cast saw blade; and wherein the temperaturecontrol system is configured to process the temperature information todetermine if the temperature of the cast saw blade at a cutting regionof the cast saw blade is at or above a threshold temperature.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemis configured to provide one or more warnings regarding the temperatureof the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cast saw temperature safetysystem further comprises an accelerometer, which accelerometer generatesa plurality of orientation information.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a method of controllingthe operation of a cast saw temperature safety system, which cast sawtemperature safety system comprises a cast saw blade comprising aplurality of cutting regions, a plurality of temperature sensors, a castsaw arbor to which the cast saw blade is attached, a cast saw motoroperably connected to the cast saw arbor, a cast saw body enclosing thecast saw motor, and a temperature control system which controls the castsaw motor to oscillate, the method comprising: the cast saw temperaturesafety system having a temperature threshold for the plurality ofcutting regions; the cast saw temperature safety system monitoringtemperature information for each of one or more of the plurality ofcutting regions; the temperature control system sending a control signalto the cast saw motor; and the temperature control system operating toslow or stop the cast saw blade if one or more of the cutting regionsreaches or exceeds a temperature threshold.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemmodifies the oscillation speed of the cast saw blade to prevent the castsaw blade from reaching a temperature threshold.

In one aspect of the present invention, a user can set a maximum safetemperature threshold.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemdecreases the oscillation speed of the cast saw blade as the cast sawblade temperature increases, based on the temperature information fromthe plurality of temperature sensors, and the temperature control systemincreases the oscillation speed of the cast saw blade as the cast sawblade temperature decreases.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemallows the cast saw blade to oscillate at the highest oscillation speedpossible without the cast saw blade temperature reaching or exceeding amaximum temperature threshold.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemcontrols the cast saw blade oscillations to be continuous orintermittent.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemcontrols the cast saw blade at any of a plurality of discreteoscillation speeds selectable by a user.

In one aspect of the present invention, the temperature control systemprovides one or more warnings to a user.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cast saw temperature safetysystem further comprises a plurality of strain gauges, and wherein thetemperature control system operating to slow or stop the cast saw bladeif one or more of the cutting regions reaches or exceeds a temperaturethreshold, does not operate to slow or stop the cast saw blade if theone or more of the cutting regions that reaches or exceeds a temperaturethreshold is not the region that is actively cutting, as determined by aplurality of strain information from the plurality of strain gauges.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cast saw temperature safetysystem further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the temperaturecontrol system determines that the one or more of the cutting regionsthat reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold is not the region thatis actively cutting based on a plurality of orientation information fromthe accelerometer.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a cast saw burn reductionsystem, comprising: a cast saw blade, which cast saw blade comprises aplurality of cutting regions; a cast saw arbor, to which cast saw arborthe cast saw blade is attached; a cast saw motor, which cast saw motoris operably connected to the cast saw arbor; a cast saw body enclosingthe cast saw motor; a coolant; a coolant reservoir; a reservoir cap; acoolant tube, which coolant tube transports coolant from the coolantreservoir to the cast saw blade; a coolant applicator; a coolant pump; acoolant control dial; at least one coolant intake; and a coolant controlsystem, which coolant control system is connected to a plurality ofcoolant applicators; and wherein the coolant control system is used tocool and/or lubricate the cast saw blade so as to lower the temperatureof the cast saw blade at one or more cutting regions of the cast sawblade.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a cast saw burn reductionsystem, comprising: a cast saw blade, which cast saw blade comprises aplurality of cutting regions; a cast saw arbor, to which cast saw arborthe cast saw blade is attached; a cast saw motor, which cast saw motoris operably connected to the cast saw arbor; a cast saw body enclosingthe cast saw motor; a coolant and coolant components; and wherein theburn reduction system allows for a user to control or cause to bereleased or applied onto or at the cast saw blade the coolant.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant components compriseone or more of the following; a coolant reservoir, a reservoir cap, acoolant, a coolant tube, a coolant pump, a plurality of coolantapplicators, a coolant control dial, and a coolant intake; and whereinthe coolant tube transports coolant from the coolant reservoir to thecast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant may be released ator onto a plurality of locations on the cast saw blade, which locationsmay be at or near an active cutting region of the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the burn reduction system may beprogrammed to release or apply coolant automatically at or onto aplurality of locations on the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant may be a coolant forevaporative cooling of the cast law blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant may be forconvective heat transport away from the cutting region of the cast sawblade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant for convective heattransport is blown at and over the surface of the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant is a lubricant thatserves to lower the temperature of at least one cutting region of thecast saw blade by reducing friction between the cast saw blade and thecast.

In one aspect of the present invention, more than one type of coolant isapplied to the cutting region of the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant tube may split intoone or more branches or segments for each side of the cast saw blade sothat the coolant may be applied to one or both sides of the cast sawblade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant tube may comprise aplurality of discrete tubes or items for transport of one or morecoolants.

In one aspect of the present invention, the user is able to direct thecoolant onto a desired location or locations on the cast saw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of coolantapplicators comprise a sponge-like material that can absorb, transport,and release a fluid coolant in contact with or in close proximity to thesaw blade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant pump may be amanually actuated component.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant pump may be anelectrically actuated component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a method of controllingthe operation of a cast saw burn reduction system, which cast saw burnreduction system comprises a cast saw blade comprising a plurality ofcutting regions, a cast saw arbor to which the cast saw blade isattached, a cast saw motor operably connected to the cast saw arbor, acast saw body enclosing the cast saw motor, and a coolant controlsystem, which controls coolant application to the cast saw blade, themethod comprising: the cast saw burn reduction system having a coolantpump that impels or pushes a coolant through a coolant tube and aplurality of coolant applicators at the cast saw blade; the cast sawburn reduction system having a coolant control dial to control thequantity of the coolant that is applied per actuation of the coolantpump; and the coolant control system operating under the control of auser or programmatically.

In one aspect of the present invention, the coolant pump impels orpushes the coolant from the coolant reservoir.

In one aspect of the present invention, the user may use the coolantcontrol dial to control the aperture of the plurality of coolantapplicators, or to control the pressure in the coolant reservoir, or tocontrol the pressure of the coolant pump.

In one aspect of the present invention, the burn reduction system isused in conjunction with a temperature control system and the coolantcontrol system actuates the coolant pump to apply coolant to the castsaw blade when the temperature control system indicates that atemperature information is at or above a certain threshold value for thetemperature of a cutting region of the cast saw blade.

These aspects of the present invention, and others disclosed in theDetailed Description of the Drawings, represent improvements on thecurrent art. This summary is provided to introduce a selection ofconcepts in a simplified form that are further described below in theDetailed Description of the Drawings. This Summary is not intended toidentify key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofvarious embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, the drawingsshow exemplary embodiments; but the presently disclosed subject matteris not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed.In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the samecomponents or steps of the device throughout the different figures.Elements of the exemplary embodiments in the drawings are shown forsimplicity and clarity, and have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings maybe exaggerated or diminished relative to other elements to help improveunderstanding of various embodiments. Additionally, common butwell-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commerciallyfeasible embodiment may not be depicted, in order to facilitate aclearer view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. In thefollowing detailed description, various embodiments of the presentinvention are described with reference to the following drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of a simplified schematic portion ofan embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of a simplified schematic portion ofan embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation view of a simplified schematic portion ofan embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary cast saw blade of an embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention in perspective and cross-sectionedalong a diameter of the blade.

FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention, with the blade removed.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the presentinvention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The presently disclosed invention is described with specificity to meetstatutory requirements. But, the description itself is not intended tolimit the scope of this patent. Rather, the claimed invention might alsobe embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elementssimilar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction withother present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step”or similar terms may be used herein to connote different aspects ofmethods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying anyparticular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unlessand except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. But, the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. Structuresand techniques that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the arthave not been shown in detail, in order not to obscure the invention.Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various majorelements constituting the apparatus and methods of use of the presentinvention.

The present invention comprises a novel cast saw temperature safetysystem 100, for use by a user 300 to cut an orthopedic cast 310 on apatient 320, or for other cutting tasks. With reference to FIGS. 1, 2,5, and 8, the cast saw temperature safety system 100 comprises a castsaw blade 110, a plurality of temperature sensors 120, a cast saw arbor130 (meaning an axis or shaft supporting a rotating part), a cast sawmotor 140, a cast saw body 150, and a temperature control system 160.The cast saw body 150 encloses the cast saw motor 140, and thetemperature control system 160 may be, it has been found advantageous,on and/or enclosed in the cast saw body 150. The cast saw motor 140 isoperably connected to the cast saw arbor 130, to which cast saw arbor130 the cast saw blade 110 is attached. The cast saw motor 140 may bedirectly connected to the cast saw arbor 130, or the cast saw motor 140may perform complete revolutions, but be attached to a device or elementwhich translates those complete revolutions into oscillations such thatthe cast saw arbor 130 oscillates. The temperature control system 160controls the cast saw motor 140 oscillation rate, and thus controls thecast saw blade 110 oscillation rate. The plurality of temperaturesensors 120 may be mounted to the cast saw body 150 in a fixed manner,or may be mounted to the cast saw body 150 movably, such that theplurality of temperature sensors 120 may be repositioned relative to thecast saw blade 110.

With reference to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the plurality oftemperature sensors 120 may be embedded in the cast saw blade 110, inwhich case a connection between the plurality of temperature sensors 120and the temperature control system 160 may be achieved with wiresrunning through the cast saw arbor 130 or external to the cast saw arbor130, or the connection between the plurality of temperature sensors 120and the temperature control system 160 may be achieved with a wirelessconnection of a type now known or later invented, including but notlimited to a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other near-field communicationsprotocol. The plurality of temperature sensors 120 may be external toand affixed to the cast saw blade 110, as shown in FIG. 6.

With reference to FIG. 7, the plurality of temperature sensors 120 maybe mounted on the cast saw body 150 and external to the cast saw blade110.

Having a plurality of temperature sensors 120 provides an advantage overthe prior art because, with an oscillating cast saw blade 110, more thanone of a plurality of cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110 maybe used at different moments to cut a particular cast, which allows theuser 300 of the cast saw temperature safety system 100 to give one ormore cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110 time in which to coolto a safer temperature, and allows use of more than one cutting region112 of the cast saw blade 110, as the saw teeth of a particular cuttingregion 112, at the edge of the cast saw blade 110, dull with use. Withthe plurality of temperature sensors 120 of the present disclosure, thecast saw temperature safety system 100 monitors multiple cutting regions112 of the cast saw blade 110, any and all of which may be used forcutting an orthopedic cast 310, and the temperature control system 160of the cast saw temperature safety system 100 can slow or stop the castsaw blade 110 if one or more of the cutting regions 112, from aplurality of cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110, reaches orexceeds a temperature threshold. While it is possible for a cast sawmade with the cast saw temperature safety system 100 of the presentinvention to safely operate to cut an orthopedic cast 310 while one ormore of the cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110 are at orabove a temperature threshold, by cutting with a cutting region 112 thatis below such a temperature threshold, for patient safety and the safetyof the operator of the cast saw—namely, lowering the risk of burns—ithas been found advantageous to have operation of such a cast sawtemperature safety system 100 be slowed or stopped if any of the cuttingregions 112 of the cast saw blade 110 are at or above a temperaturethreshold established for patient safety. In some embodiments of thepresent invention, the cast saw temperature safety system 100 canoperate with one or more of the cutting regions 112 of the cast sawblade 110 at or above a temperature threshold, provided that the cuttingregion 112 that is actively cutting is not at or above a temperaturethreshold. In such embodiments, the cast saw temperature safety system100 monitors the cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110 todetermine which cutting region 112 is actively cutting, by i) monitoringthe temperatures of multiple cutting regions 112, where the cast sawtemperature safety system 100 can detect that a first cutting region 112is heating up then it must be being used to cut, and a second (or more)other cutting region 112 of the cast saw blade 110 can be at or abovethe temperature threshold, and the first cutting region 112 can be usedfor cutting while the second (or more) cutting region 112 is above thethreshold is cooling, and/or ii) monitoring strain on the cast saw blade110 through the use of a plurality of strain gauges 122. The pluralityof strain gauges 122 are, in such embodiments of the present invention,attached to the cast saw blade 110 in one or more of the cutting regions112, and generate a plurality of strain information, so that theplurality of strain gauges 122 can be used in a method to determinewhich cutting region 112 of the cast saw blade 110 is actively cutting,and operate to not stop the cutting if the cutting region 112 that isactively cutting is not at or above a temperature threshold. In suchembodiments of the present invention, the temperature control system 160operating to slow or stop the cast saw blade 110 if one or more of thecutting regions 112 reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold, does notoperate to slow or stop the cast saw blade 110 if the one or more of thecutting regions 112 that reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold isnot the region that is actively cutting. The temperature control system160 can detect which of the one or more of the cutting regions 112 isthe region that is actively cutting, through use of informationgenerated by an accelerometer 162, which accelerometer 162 may bemounted in or on the temperature control system 160, though otherpositions of the accelerometer 162 are possible, including but notlimited to mounted on the cast saw body 150, on the cast saw arbor 130,or on the cast saw blade 110. The accelerometer 162 detects theorientation of the cast saw blade 110 and/or of the cast saw body 150,generates a plurality of orientation information, and conveys theplurality of orientation information to the temperature control system160. With the plurality of orientation information, and with anyavailable information from the plurality of strain gauges 122, thetemperature control system 160 can determine the orientation of the castsaw body 150, and therefore the orientation of the cast saw blade 110,and using that orientation information, can determine which of the oneor more of the cutting regions 112 is the region that is activelycutting, typically because best and standard practice in the field is toonly cut straight down, though one of skill in the art will see that thetemperature control system 160 could be used with types of medicalpractice for cast removal other than only cutting straight down. Thetemperature control system 160 can control the operation of the cast sawblade 110, such that the temperature control system 160 does not operateto slow or stop the cast saw blade 110 if the one or more of the cuttingregions 112 that reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold is not theregion that is actively cutting.

The plurality of temperature sensors 120 may comprise one or moreselected from a list comprising thermocouples, resistive temperaturedevices, thermistors, infrared radiators, lasers, bimetallic devices,liquid expansion devices, optical sensors, fiber Bragg grating opticalsensors or other distributed Bragg reflector, thermowells, resistancethermometer, resistance temperature detectors, digital thermal imaging,infrared temperature measurement, or change-of-state devices. Any ofthese types of temperature sensors 120 may be used, in any combination,whether they are fixedly or movably attached to the cast saw body 150 tobe positioned at or near the cast saw blade 110, or be positioned awayfrom the cast saw blade 110, or embedded in or placed on the cast sawblade 110.

The plurality of temperature sensors 120 convey temperature informationto the temperature control system 160, by wired or wireless means aspreviously described, which temperature information may comprise aplurality of temperature readings with one or more readings for each ofone or more cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110. Thetemperature control system 160 processes the plurality of temperatureinformation for the plurality of cutting regions 112 to determine if thetemperature of the cast saw blade 110 at a cutting region 112 of thecast saw blade 110 is at or above a threshold temperature, whichthreshold temperature is set or may be set at a temperature that isconsidered safe and unlikely to cause a burn to the person wearing theorthopedic cast 310. Based on the plurality of temperature informationand the determined temperature of the cast saw blade 110 at least onecutting region 112, the temperature control system 160 sends a controlsignal to the cast saw motor 140. The temperature control system 160 maycause the cast saw motor 140 to slow or stop, or allow the cast sawmotor 140 to remain oscillating at the current speed, or at a higherspeed.

The temperature control system 160 may have programmed into it, orotherwise implement, a plurality of modes of controlling the operationof the cast saw motor 140 and thus the cast saw blade 110, in responseto the plurality of temperature information from the plurality oftemperature sensors 120. The temperature control system 160 may modifythe oscillation speed of the cast saw blade 110 to prevent the cast sawblade 110 from reaching a temperature in which the skin of the patient320 would be burned or would be likely to be burned, such temperature ofthe cast saw blade 110 being referred to as a temperature threshold orlimit, a safe temperature threshold or limit, or a temperature safetythreshold or limit.

The temperature control system 160 can be set to control the cast sawtemperature safety system 100 by decreasing the oscillation speed of thecast saw blade 110 as the temperature of the cast saw blade 110 overallor in any particular cutting region 112 of the cast saw blade 110 isrising, or shut off or pause the cast saw blade 110 oscillations once acertain cast saw blade 110 safe temperature threshold is reached.

The temperature control system 160 may be controlled by the user 300 toselect or set a maximum safe temperature threshold. The temperaturecontrol system 160 may have a safety mode in which the cast saw motor140 and thus cast saw blade 110 will be shut off by the temperaturecontrol system 160 at a certain temperature threshold that can be set bythe user 300. Another mode of controlling the operation of the cast sawtemperature safety system 100 by the temperature control system 160 is adynamic mode that will decrease the oscillation speed of the cast sawblade 110 as the cast saw blade 110 temperature increases, based on thetemperature information from the plurality of temperature sensors 120.As the cast saw blade 110 temperature decreases, the oscillation speedwill increase.

Another mode of controlling the operation of the cast saw temperaturesafety system 100 by the temperature control system 160 may allow thecast saw blade 110 to oscillate at the highest oscillation speedpossible without the cast saw blade 110 temperature reaching orexceeding a maximum temperature threshold. The temperature controlsystem 160 may control the cast saw blade 110 oscillations to becontinuous or intermittent. The temperature control system 160 maycontrol the cast saw blade 110 at any of a plurality of discreteoscillation speeds selectable by the user 300; such a plurality ofoscillation speeds may include, but are not limited to, slow, medium,and high. A fail safe mode for the cast saw temperature safety system100 can be controlled by the temperature control system 160, in whichthe temperature control system 160 shuts off or pauses the cast sawblade 110 oscillations if a certain cast saw blade 110 temperaturethreshold is reached, and may prevent the cast saw blade 110 fromoscillating until the cast saw blade 110 temperature is below thetemperature threshold, or until the cast saw blade 110 temperature isbelow the temperature threshold by a certain margin of temperature. Thetemperature control system 160 may slow the oscillations of the cast sawblade 110 as the temperature information from the plurality oftemperature sensors 120 indicates that the temperature of a cuttingregion 112 of the cast saw blade 110 is approaching a temperaturethreshold.

The temperature control system 160 may provide one or more warnings tothe user 300, with any combination of auditory warnings with an alarm ora tone, visible warnings with lights or a readable display of warninginformation, tactile feedback with vibrations in the cast saw body 150or by a pattern of pulsation of the cast saw blade 110, and/or withother warning means to provide the user 300 feedback regarding thetemperature of the cast saw blade 110. The temperature control system160 may provide any combination of the foregoing warnings or informationas the temperature of the cast saw blade 110 approaches and/or reachesone or more temperature thresholds. The foregoing warning or warningscan change pitch, volume, frequency, display of information, or tactilefeedback to alert the user 300 to the temperature of the cast saw blade110. A display, which may be incorporated into the temperature controlsystem 160, may show the current temperature of at least one cuttingregion 112 of the cast saw blade 110. Any of the foregoing types ofwarnings or displays of information may be implemented with any of theforegoing types of control modes that may be implemented by thetemperature control system 160 of the cast saw temperature safety system100.

With reference to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the cast saw temperaturesafety system 100 is shown in conjunction with a cast saw burn reductionsystem 200 which may be used to cool and/or lubricate the cast saw blade110, so as to lower the temperature of the cast saw blade 110 at one ormore cutting regions 112 of the cast saw blade 110. A cast saw burnreduction system 200 may be used with any of the foregoing embodimentsof the cast saw temperature safety system 100. With reference to FIG. 3,FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, a cast saw burn reduction system 200 of thepresent invention may comprise a cast saw blade 110 with a plurality ofcutting regions 112, a cast saw arbor 130, a cast saw motor 140, a castsaw body 150, a coolant 274, and a plurality of coolant applicators 282.The cast saw burn reduction system 200 may further comprise a coolantcontrol system 290.

The cast saw burn reduction system 200 further comprises coolantcomponents for applying coolant to at least one cutting region 112 ofthe cast saw blade 110, which components may comprise a coolantreservoir 270, a reservoir cap 272 which may be fastened to close anopening in the coolant reservoir 270, a coolant applicator 276, acoolant pump 278, and a coolant control dial 280. The cast saw burnreduction system 200 coolant components for applying coolant to at leastone cutting region 112 of the cast saw blade 110 may further comprise atleast one coolant intake 284. The cast saw burn reduction system 200allows for the user 300 to control or cause to be released or appliedonto or at the cast saw blade 110 the coolant 274. The coolant 274 maybe released at or onto a plurality of locations on the cast saw blade110, which locations may be at or near the active cutting region 112 ofthe cast saw blade 110. Alternatively, or in addition, the cast saw burnreduction system 200 may be programmed to release or apply coolant 274automatically at or onto a plurality of locations on the cast saw blade110, which locations may be at or near the active cutting region 112 ofthe cast saw blade 110.

The coolant 274 may be a coolant for evaporative cooling of the cast sawblade 110, including but not limited to water or isopropyl alcohol, orthe coolant 274 may be a coolant for convective heat transport away fromthe cutting region 112 of the cast saw blade 110, including but notlimited to ambient air, or any gas from another source such ascompressed air from a tank external to the saw or mounted on the castsaw, that is blown at and over the surface of the cast saw blade 110.Any gas from a compressed tank would have the advantage, fortemperature-reduction purposes of the present invention, of cooling asit is released from pressure, increasing its effectiveness at loweringthe temperature of the cast saw blade 110. Alternatively, the coolant274 may be a lubricant, including but not limited to hydrocarbon-basedlubricants such as mineral oil or other lubricants, that serves to lowerthe temperature of at least one cutting region 112 of the cast saw blade110 by reducing friction between the cast saw blade 110 and the cast. Acoolant 274 that is a lubricant may serve to keep the temperature of thecast saw blade 110 from rising, avoiding the need to have it lowered byapplication of a coolant 274 for evaporative cooling, convectivecooling, or other type of cooling. A coolant 274 that is a lubricant maybe a lubricant that will spread on the cast saw blade 110 to coat theexterior of the cast saw blade 110 with a film or coating of lubricant,this may be accomplished through the use of a sponge-like material,meaning one that is absorbent of the lubricant, through which thelubricant may be transported and then released out of or from, such thatthe lubricant is either in contact with or in close proximity to thecast saw blade 110.

In some embodiments of the present invention, it has been foundadvantageous to have more than one type of coolant 274 applied to acutting region 112 of the cast saw blade 110; for instance, water ormineral oil may be used as a lubricant, and air may be applied forcooling purposes, in some embodiments of the present invention. In suchembodiments of the present invention, there may be present more than oneeach of one or more of the following components: a coolant reservoir270, a reservoir cap 272, a coolant 274, a coolant tube 276, a coolantpump 278, a coolant control dial 280, and a coolant intake 284.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the coolant 274 or one ofthe plurality of coolants 274 (in embodiments with more than one coolant274) may be applied to only one side of the cast saw blade 110. In otherembodiments of the present invention, the coolant 274 may be applied toboth sides of the cast saw blade 110.

Where the cast saw burn reduction system 200 comprises a coolantreservoir 270, a reservoir cap 272, a coolant 274, a coolant tube 276, acoolant pump 278, and a coolant control dial 280, the user 300 mayreversibly remove the reservoir cap 272 to expose an opening in thecoolant reservoir 270, fill the coolant reservoir 270 with coolant 274and/or remove coolant 274 from the coolant reservoir 270, and secure thereservoir cap 272 to close the coolant reservoir 270. The coolant tube276 transports coolant 274 from the coolant reservoir 270 to the castsaw blade 110. In some embodiments of the present invention, the coolanttube 276 may split into one or more branches or segments for each sideof the cast saw blade 110, so that the coolant 274 may be applied to oneor both sides of the cast saw blade 110. Alternatively, the coolant tube276 may comprise a plurality of discrete tubes or items for transport ofone or more coolants 274.

After transport through the coolant tube 276, the coolant 274 is appliedby the plurality of coolant applicators 282 to the cast saw blade 110,advantageously, at or near the cutting region 112. The user 300 should,it has been found advantageous, be able to direct the coolant 274 onto adesired location or locations on the cast saw blade 110. If the coolant274 is a lubricant, the lubricant should advantageously form a film oflubricant between one or both sides of the cast saw blade 110 and theorthopedic cast 310, which reduces the frictional drag between theorthopedic cast 310 and the cast saw blade 110, lowering the risk thatthe cast saw blade 110 becomes hot enough to burn the patient 320wearing the orthopedic cast 310. A coolant 274 that is a lubricantshould be used in quantities sufficiently small so that it does notsignificantly moisten the orthopedic cast 310 or the cast padding thatis typically used between the patient 320 and the rigid material of theorthopedic cast 310. If the coolant 274 provides evaporative cooling orconvective cooling, it should be used in small enough quantities so thatit does not drip into and moisten the orthopedic cast 310, or getexpelled from the cast saw blade 110 due to the rapid accelerations ofthe cast saw blade 110 as the cast saw blade 110 oscillates.

The coolant 274 may be applied to the cast saw blade 110 via the coolanttube 276 and the plurality of coolant applicators 282 through theoperation of the coolant pump 278, and will be understood by one ofskill in the art that one or more types of coolant 274 may be used in agiven embodiment of the present invention. The coolant pump 278 impelsor pushes the coolant 274 from the coolant reservoir 270 if the coolant274 is held in the coolant reservoir 270, such as a liquid evaporativecoolant or liquid lubricant. If the coolant 274 is ambient air, thecoolant pump 278 may impel or push the coolant 274 from the coolantintake 284, which coolant intake 284 is used to gather the ambient airto be used as the coolant 274, through the coolant tube 276 and theplurality of coolant applicators 282 at the cast saw blade 110. Inanother embodiment of the present invention, ambient air may be used asthe coolant 274 by using the coolant pump 278 as a vacuum to draw airthrough the coolant tube 276, cooling the cast saw blade 110 through themotion of the ambient air over the cast saw blade 110, and having theadditional advantage of serving as a vacuum to remove and clean debrisfrom the cutting of the orthopedic cast 310. In embodiments of theinvention where the coolant 274 is gas from another source (other thanambient air), the coolant pump 278 may impel or push or release thecoolant 274 from the coolant intake 284 or from the coolant reservoir270, through the coolant tube 276 and the plurality of coolantapplicators 282 at the cast saw blade 110. In an embodiment of thepresent invention where the coolant 274 is a fluid or liquid, thecoolant 274 may be applied with the plurality of coolant applicators282, where the plurality of coolant applicators 282 comprise asponge-like material, meaning a material that can absorb, transport, andrelease a fluid coolant 274, in contact with or in close proximity tothe cast saw blade 110, where the plurality of coolant applicators 282are close enough to the cast saw blade 110 that the coolant 274 wicksfrom the plurality of coolant applicators 282 to the cast saw blade 110.The coolant pump 278 may be a manually actuated component, including butnot limited to a bulb or crank to actuate the coolant pump 278 to applya quantity of coolant 274 to the cast saw blade 110, or the coolant pump278 may be electrically actuated, to apply a quantity of coolant 274 tothe cast saw blade 110. The user 300 may use the coolant control dial280 to control the quantity of the coolant 274 that is applied peractuation of the coolant pump 278. The coolant control dial 280 maycontrol the pressure of the coolant pump 278 if the coolant pump 278 iselectrically actuated, or the aperture of the plurality of coolantapplicators 282 if the coolant pump 278 is mechanically actuated, or thepressure in the coolant reservoir 270 if the coolant pump 278 ismechanically actuated; or more than one of the foregoing. In embodimentsof the present invention where the coolant pump 278 is electricallyactuated, the coolant control system 290 may be used to automaticallyapply coolant 274, in one or more ways as described herein, includingbut not limited to at specific time intervals. In embodiments of thepresent invention in which the coolant control system 290 is used inconjunction with the temperature control system 160, the coolant controlsystem 290 may be controlled to actuate the coolant pump 278, and thusapply coolant 274 to the cast saw blade 110, when the temperaturecontrol system 160 indicates that the temperature information is at orabove a certain threshold value for the temperature of a cutting region112 of the cast saw blade 110. The temperature control system 160 andthe coolant control system 290 may be separate or may be integratedtogether as a component or set of components of the cast saw temperaturesafety system.

Certain embodiments of the present invention were described above. Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted toattain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with otheradvantages, which are obvious in and inherent to the inventive apparatusdisclosed herein. It will be understood that certain features andsub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference toother features and sub-combinations. It is expressly noted that thepresent invention is not limited to those embodiments described above,but rather the intention is that additions and modifications to what wasexpressly described herein are also included within the scope of theinvention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of thevarious embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and canexist in various combinations and permutations, even if suchcombinations or permutations were not made express herein, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In fact,variations, modifications, and other implementations of what wasdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Assuch, the invention is not to be defined only by the precedingillustrative description.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:
 1. A cast saw burn reduction system,comprising: a cast saw blade, which cast saw blade comprises a pluralityof cutting regions; a cast saw arbor, to which cast saw arbor the castsaw blade is attached; a cast saw motor, which cast saw motor isoperably connected to the cast saw arbor; a cast saw body enclosing thecast saw motor; a coolant; a coolant reservoir; a reservoir cap; acoolant tube, which coolant tube transports coolant from the coolantreservoir to the cast saw blade; a coolant applicator; a coolant pump; acoolant control dial; at least one coolant intake; and a coolant controlsystem, which coolant control system is connected to a plurality ofcoolant applicators; and wherein the coolant control system is used tocool and/or lubricate the cast saw blade so as to lower the temperatureof the cast saw blade at one or more cutting regions of the cast sawblade.
 2. A cast saw burn reduction system, comprising: a cast sawblade, which cast saw blade comprises a plurality of cutting regions; acast saw arbor, to which cast saw arbor the cast saw blade is attached;a cast saw motor, which cast saw motor is operably connected to the castsaw arbor; a cast saw body enclosing the cast saw motor; a coolant andcoolant components; and wherein the burn reduction system allows for auser to control or cause to be released or applied onto or at the castsaw blade the coolant.
 3. The cast saw burn reduction system of claim 2,wherein the coolant components comprise one or more of the following; acoolant reservoir, a reservoir cap, a coolant, a coolant tube, a coolantpump, a plurality of coolant applicators, a coolant control dial, and acoolant intake; and wherein the coolant tube transports coolant from thecoolant reservoir to the cast saw blade.
 4. The cast saw burn reductionsystem of claim 2, wherein the coolant may be released at or onto aplurality of locations on the cast saw blade, which locations may be ator near an active cutting region of the cast saw blade.
 5. The cast sawburn reduction system of claim 2, wherein the burn reduction system maybe programmed to release or apply coolant automatically at or onto aplurality of locations on the cast saw blade.
 6. The cast saw burnreduction system of claim 2, wherein the coolant may be a coolant forevaporative cooling of the cast law blade.
 7. The cast saw burnreduction system of claim 2, wherein the coolant may be for convectiveheat transport away from the cutting region of the cast saw blade. 8.The cast saw burn reduction system of claim 9, wherein the coolant forconvective heat transport is blown at and over the surface of the castsaw blade.
 9. The cast saw burn reduction system of claim 2, wherein thecoolant is a lubricant that serves to lower the temperature of at leastone cutting region of the cast saw blade by reducing friction betweenthe cast saw blade and the cast.
 10. The cast saw burn reduction systemof claim 2, wherein more than one type of coolant is applied to thecutting region of the cast saw blade.
 11. The cast saw burn reductionsystem of claim 3, wherein the coolant tube may split into one or morebranches or segments for each side of the cast saw blade so that thecoolant may be applied to one or both sides of the cast saw blade. 12.The cast saw burn reduction system of claim 3, wherein the coolant tubemay comprise a plurality of discrete tubes or items for transport of oneor more coolants.
 13. The cast saw burn reduction system of claim 2,wherein the user is able to direct the coolant onto a desired locationor locations on the cast saw blade.
 14. The cast saw burn reductionsystem of claim 3, wherein the plurality of coolant applicators comprisea sponge-like material that can absorb, transport, and release a fluidcoolant in contact with or in close proximity to the saw blade.
 15. Thecast saw burn reduction system of claim 3, wherein the coolant pump maybe a manually actuated component.
 16. The cast saw burn reduction systemof claim 3, wherein the coolant pump may be an electrically actuatedcomponent.
 17. A method of controlling the operation of a cast saw burnreduction system, which cast saw burn reduction system comprises a castsaw blade comprising a plurality of cutting regions, a cast saw arbor towhich the cast saw blade is attached, a cast saw motor operablyconnected to the cast saw arbor, a cast saw body enclosing the cast sawmotor, and a coolant control system, which controls coolant applicationto the cast saw blade, the method comprising: the cast saw burnreduction system having a coolant pump that impels or pushes a coolantthrough a coolant tube and a plurality of coolant applicators at thecast saw blade; the cast saw burn reduction system having a coolantcontrol dial to control the quantity of the coolant that is applied peractuation of the coolant pump; and the coolant control system operatingunder the control of a user or programmatically.
 18. The method ofcontrolling the operation of a cast saw burn reduction system of claim17, wherein the coolant pump impels or pushes the coolant from thecoolant reservoir.
 19. The method of controlling the operation of a castsaw burn reduction system of claim 17, wherein the user may use thecoolant control dial to control the aperture of the plurality of coolantapplicators, or to control the pressure in the coolant reservoir, or tocontrol the pressure of the coolant pump.
 20. The method of controllingthe operation of a cast saw burn reduction system of claim 17, whereinthe burn reduction system is used in conjunction with a temperaturecontrol system and the coolant control system actuates the coolant pumpto apply coolant to the cast saw blade when the temperature controlsystem indicates that a temperature information is at or above a certainthreshold value for the temperature of a cutting region of the cast sawblade.